Minimally Invasive Nonresectional Mitral Valve Repair Can Be Performed With Excellent Outcomes

To review the efficacy of a minimally invasive surgical technique for mitral valve (MV) repair, we analyzed a nonresectional technique for degenerative mitral regurgitation.

A retrospective analysis was performed on 101 consecutive patients who underwent a minimally invasive MV repair for severe degenerative mitral regurgitation between 2014 and 2017. All patients underwent a right lateral minithoracotomy and femoral cannulation and were repaired by a nonresectional technique using neochord loop implantation and ring annuloplasty. Patients were followed with longitudinal echocardiograms.

The median age was 58 years (interquartile range [IQR], 49-64), and 31% were women. The procedure was successfully performed using a right minithoracotomy in all patients except for 1 who required an extended thoracotomy. A median of 4 neochords were placed. The median length was 16 mm (IQR, 14-18), and ring size was 34 mm (IQR, 32-36). Concomitant procedures included left atrial appendage exclusion in 10 patients (10%) and patent foramen ovale closure in 13 (13%). Median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 152 minutes (IQR, 142-164), and aortic cross-clamp time was 90 minutes (IQR, 81-98). Operative mortality was 0% and 1-year survival 100%. At 3 years freedom from recurrent at least moderate mitral regurgitation was 100%, and no patient required a valve-related reoperation. At 1 year the median left atrial diameter decreased by 15% (44 vs 37 mm, P < .001), the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter decreased by 14% (53 vs 46 mm, P < .001), and MV gradients remained low (3.1 vs 2.9 mmHg, P = .54).

Minimally invasive MV repair using a nonresectional technique can be performed for severe degenerative mitral regurgitation with a low complication rate, excellent durability, and promising left ventricular reverse remodeling.